Christmas Rounds 2 and 3

After returning from Iowa, we had a couple nights at home to celebrate Christmas before heading back north again.  We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home, enjoying the brief break.  However, Gracie was sick off and on through that period of time.  Both on the way home from Iowa, and then again the day after Christmas she wasn't feeling the best.  We managed to get through, though.  

On Christmas Eve, we attended church again in Columbia at the Methodist Church downtown.  It was a short candle light service, and it was good to keep that tradition going.  After church, we came home and had dinner together followed by the kids opening their gifts from us.  We managed to get one more viewing of the Polar Express before the end of the evening, too.   I think this was the 5th time Owen has watched it since Thanksgiving.

Gracie and Owen at church

Mom and Gracie on Christmas Eve

Gracie and Owen in front of our tree on Christmas Eve

Here we are...another year.

Thanks Gracie, for getting a picture.

Owen's face.  I love the excitement he shows when he is happy.

Owen's new mud boots.  They won't stay that way for long.

Gracie also picked out some long thermal underwear for him - it was on his list.

Gracie's new pj's

Christmas Morning!

Santa came again this year.  Owen made sure to leave cookies and milk, as well as some carrots for the reindeer.  They both wrote letters and made sure Santa knew he was welcome to the hay that we have for his reindeer if they needed any.

New KC Chiefs hoodie!

Santa brought a basketball game and left it in the dining room.

It didn't stay there long.

Gracie and Owen competing against each other

Owen finally got a drone for Christmas.  He has been asking for one since he was about 4 years old.  The Pterona-drone was pretty cool, but the wings on it didn't last very long.  Nick is trying it out here.  I think it lasted about an hour before the wings were broken from Owen running it into things inside the house  It still works, it just doesn't look like a pterodactyl anymore.

Waiting for it to charge again.  The drone is good for about 20 minutes or so, then needs to be charged for a while before it will work again.

Gracie waiting to see what's in the big box.

It was a new bean bag for her room from Grandma Kate!

Owen gets a new Harry Potter lego set to put together.  He had this done by the end of the day.

Here we are opening our gift.

Christmas day was a balmy 50 degrees, so we got to spend some time outside in the sun.  My parents drove up to have lunch with us.  Nick and Gracie got to play catch, and of course it was so hot, that Gracie didn't think she needed shoes.  It was a good day and I'm glad we got to be together.

Back to Iowa

No problems with weather this year!  Other than Gracie not feeling all that great in the morning, the trip to Muscatine was uneventful and we made it there with no incident.  Deb and Norm had flown in with Amber, Tony, and Sarah earlier in the afternoon and Cassie and Jeremy arrived with their kids around 10pm.  Mary and Patrick were also already there when we arrived.  Josh and Julie came the following day to round it out.

Here are the 13 grandkids in attendance

Owen, Lucas, Jaxson, Jorden, Gracie, Sawyer, Afton, Aria, Joslyn, Mallory, Ryleigh, William, Anna

This is Alys.  She is Mary and Patrick's niece and staying with them for the time being.  She is currently in foster care, and their hope is to be able to adopt her.

The girls put on their annual talent show.  They spent most of the first evening choreographing all of the routines for our viewing pleasure.

Gracie is almost to big too do any sort of leaping or jumping in the DuRocher basement.

I can't remember exactly how many dances they performed, but we were entertained for probably over 30 minutes.

After lunch and the arrival of Josh and Julie, we did the gift exchange and opening.

I love this picture; not because of Owen and Grandma Deb.  I am entertained by what's going on behind him among the teenagers.  Tony and Lucas are sitting together playing with slime while Sarah watches and encourages.

Gracie got her basketball!

I think they are still watching the sliming.

Ryleigh and Gracie sitting with Grandpa Norm

Owen, just before opening more presents.

Nick made pizza for us that evening and we had fun with family.  There was lunch the next day, however, during the night I got sick and did not partake in any of the festivities on Friday.  We left during mid after noon on Friday and I continued to feel terrible through the rest of the weekend.  Late Friday evening, Owen also got sick and we spent all of Saturday either in bed or on the couch.  Gracie had basketball games that Nick went to with her.

Well, being sick also prevented Owen and me from going to Memphis to watch Mizzou in the Liberty Bowl.  Nick and Gracie were able to go, though, and hopefully will get to watch Mizzou beat OSU!  The weather is not the greatest, but I hope the rain stops before kick off this afternoon.  We're both feeling a lot better, so we will head down to watch the game with my parents.

New Year's Eve might be pretty uneventful for us this year, but the only request Owen has had is some sparkling grape juice.  The rest of this week should be pretty calm.  I'm planning to go back to work for at least a few hours every day this week to get some stuff done before we jump back into craziness.  

Owen has his first basketball games this weekend, which should be interesting since they have only had 2 practices.  I hope he has fun.  At least he is on a team with some of his friends.  Gracie also has a tournament on Sunday in Mexico.  Back to the regular grind on Monday!